Fluid pressure pump



Dec. 25, 1945. W. N. EDDINS E'r AL 2,391,556

FLUID PRESSURE PUMP Filed oct. 8, 194s 2 sheetssheet 1 Dec. 25, 1945. w N. EDDINS ET A1.

FLUID PRES SURE PUMP Filed Oct. 8, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4w| e 94M VUM-N. EDDlNs GCTHURNAN INVENvToRS BYQIAIUL Patented il@ 25, 1945 orifice FLUID PRESSURE PUMP vv viiuam N. Edding, sail Antonio, and cari uV Thurman, Freer, Tex.

' Application October 8., 1943, Serial No. 505,440

(Cl. 19E-46) s claims'.

The invention relates to a pump particularly of the type which is to be positioned in a well where a pumping action is to be obtained by the application of pressure fluid to the pumping assembly.

The invention relates generally to the combination of structure set forth in the prior copending application of William N. Eddins, Serial No. 372,962, led January 3, 1941, for Fluid pressure operated pump, which has matured into Patent No. 2,339,920, issued January 25, 1944, but includes specic improvements thereof intended to simplify the construction and operation thereof.

One of the objects of the present invention is to incorporate the pumping mechanism within the connes of the usual string of tubing so that it can be positioned by inserting .and withdrawing the tubing.

Another object of the invention is to incorporate the control valve, the pump piston, and the check valves all within the confines of the tubing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a travelling barrel which carries a pair of spaced travelling valves to insure sealing of the liquid on each pumping stroke.

Another object oi the invention is to utilize the area between the tubing and the casing as a pressure reservoir in order to automatically operate the pump.

Another object of the invention is to utilize the area between a. macaroni string and the inside of the tubing as a pressure fluid reservoir to automatically operate the pump.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pumping mechanism to be run into the well ona tubing string and which may be operated by pressure iiuid from the casing or which may have a macaroni string disposed within the tubing and using the tubing as the pressure fluid reservoir.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 1 the well casing is shown at 2 and it has deposited therein a string of tubing 3 which may have a. packer or other sealing member to close the area between the tubing and the casing at about the elevation of the pump. 'Ihe pump assembly is shown at IS and is carried by the tubing 3 by means of a coupling 5. The pump. assembly is made up of a series of nipples, couplings,|and tubing sections, the uppermost of which is the barrier or nipple 6 which is arranged to contain the control valve I as seen in Fig. 2. A coupling 9 connects a section of pipe I0 which may be called a working barrel to the lower end of the barrier 6. Another plug or barrier I I is connected by a coupling I2 to the working barrel I and still anotherl coupling I3 connects the standingvalve housing I t to the barrier II. This housing may carry the packer t' as seen in Fig. 1 and it also supports the standing valve I 6 which is arranged therein and spaced a suitable distance below the barrier II.

A string of macaroni pipe or small diameter tubing 20 is shown as having been run inside of the tubing 3 and deposited on the seat 2i provided by a bushing 22 in the upper end of the upper barrier 6.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1

a pressure reservoir 25 will be formed between the tubing 3 and the casing 2 due to the pro- Other andfurther objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following descrip- `tion is considered in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the pump assembly disposed in a well casing in operating position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the control valve I construction. V

Fig. 3 shows a modified arrangement wherein the tubing is used as a pressure reservoir and the casing is used as the exhaust outlet.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

vision 0f the packer or seal i. and the fact that the tubing head closes this annular space at the surface; Fluid under pressure can be provided in this reservoir 25 for admission to the pumping mechanism in order to force the well liquid to the surface.

To control the admission arid exhaust of this pressure uid the control valve 'I has been arranged in the barrier 6. An inlet 30 for pressure fluid is provided in the barrier' 6 so 'as to admit the pressure iiuid to a recessed area 3l provided in the valve which has the openings 32 leading into the longitudinal passage 33, which extends entirely through the valve 1. This arrangement of structure admits pressure fluid when the recess 3| is aligned with the inlet 30 as seen in Fig. 2. This pressure fluid passes downwardly through the valve and discharges from the lower end 35 thereof. The upper end of the valve terminates in a cushion chamber 36 formed by the stop cap member 31 which prevents the actual escape of any of the pressure fluid. This chamber 35 allows an equalization of pressure above and below valve 1.

The discharge from the opening 35 is within the working barrel I into the pump chamber 4|). This chamber is divided into the lower chamber 4| and the upper chamber 42 bya piston 43 which is slidably arranged in the working barrel and having a plurality of packing rings 44 of Fig. 2 thereon to prevent leakage thereby. This piston carries a packing assembly 45 through which the valve 1 is slidable. The packing assembly prevents leakage around the valve from one side of the piston to the other.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2 the pressure fluid is discharging into the lower chamber 4| and therefore has a tendency to raise .the piston 43 in the working barrel I0.

In order to obtain a pumping action a traveling barrel 50 is flxed to the piston 43 and is in the form of an upper pipe extension 5| and a lower pipe extension 52. Each of these extensions carries a traveling valve such as 53 which is a check valve arranged to form a seal on the seat 55 and is prevented from excessive movement by the cross pin 53'.

These two traveling barrel pipe extensions are of a su'icient length to extend through the upper barrier 6 and the lower barrier respectively and the pipes have the flow passage 54 therethrough. K

As seen in Fig. 1 the traveling pipe extends through a suitable packing in the lower barrier I I and projects into the standing valve chamber 56 in the tubing below the barrier As the traveling barrel moves upwardly, the lower valve 53 will be closed so that a suction will be created in the standing valve chamber and tend to draw in a charge of well liquid from the well or casing through the tubing below the standing valve. The upper traveling valve 53 assists in forming a seal to prevent leakage past the valve seat 55.

As seen in Fig. 2 as the piston 43 moves upwardly it is arranged to engage a spring 58 which is held in place by a lock ring 59, both of which A are carried by the control valve 1. The spring 58 cushions the shockof the moving piston and tends to move the control valve 1 upwardly. This upward movement displaces the recess 3| from connection with the inlet port 30 and moves the A annular recess 60 into alignment with another inlet port 6|. When the valve is thus aligned, there will be a flow of pressure fluid through the opening B2 into the upper chamber 42 above the piston 43. A snap' action of the valve 1 is obtained by the4 gradual compression of springs 58 and 13 and the provision of the spring pressed ball latch 64 which is best seen in Fig. 4 which is arranged to snap into the recesses such as 65 so that the valve 1 will either be positioned in a denite upper position or a definite lower position. It will be noted that Iche passage 62, when the valve was in the lower position feeding pressure uid to the chamber below the piston, was connected by means of the recess 61 to an exhaust outlet B8 leading to the inside of the tubing 3 above the barrier 6 so that there would be no back pressure in the chamber 42 which-would tend to hinder the upward movement of the piston.

, When the control valve moved upwardly to align the recess 6U and the port 6| then of course the port 61 moves out of engagement with the exhaust outlet 68 so as to close the chamber 42 against the escape of pressure. l

This amounts to a reversal of the ow of pressure iiuid'i'rom below the piston into the chamber -above the piston.

port B9 which connects with the exhaust outlet 68. In this manner the area in the lower chamber 56 is connected through the passage 33 to the outlet opening 68 for the escape of the pressure fluid which had caused the upward movement of the piston.

Under these conditions the piston will start downwardly carrying with it the traveling barrel 50. As the traveling barrel moves down the standing valve I6 closes instantly and liquid thus trapped in the standing valve chamber 56 will be forced past the lower. traveling valvev 53 up into the traveling barrel and on upwardly therethrough past the upper traveling valve 53.

In order to conduct the well fluid to the surface the string of macaroni pipe 20 serves as an extension of the traveling barrel and if desired, a standing valve 1| may be carried thereby. The downward movement of the traveling barrel creates a suction beneath the standing valve 1| and assists in drawing in a new charge of well liquid into the traveling barrel passage 54.

When the piston 43 reaches the lower end of its stroke it engages a spring stop mechanism 13 which is similar to the parts 58 and 59 so that the control valve 1 is snapped downwardly to its initial position to again reverse the ilow of pressure fluid to below the piston while opening the chamber 42 above thepiston for escape of the pressure fluid therefrom which has caused the piston to move down.

Itis not believed that further explanation of the construction and operation of this pumping unit need be given because it appears that it would operate automatically and 'continuously so long as the pressure fluid was applied thereto. Of course, a relatively low unit area pressure applied to the large surface of the piston would effect the operation thereof. The piston is balanced as to area due to the traveling barrels 5| and 52 extending through the pressure chambers 4| and 42. It will be noted that the outlet 35 on the lower end of the control valve extends into a depression 14 provided in the barrier so as to continuously agitate any sediment which might flow in with the pressure fluid on the inlet and to assist in its escape on the outlet. It the macaroni string is not used then the pumped liquid will discharge into the tubing and a suitable standing valve will be provided therein which will serve the same purpose as the standing valve 1|.

In some cases it is undesirable to use the casing as a reservoir because the casing may leak or it may require an excessive volume of pressure fluid to maintain the desired pressure and Fig. 3 shows an arrangement whereby the packer 4' of Fig. 1 is dispensed withand the casing is opened at the well head. The tubing 3 is used as the pressure fluid reservoir and the macaroni string used to flow the well. In such an arrangement as seen in Fig. 3 the space between the tubing and casing is used as an exhaust outlet.

As to the details of Fig. 3 the casing l0 and the pump-assembly 4 are substantially identical with the arrangementof Fig. 2, but the inlets and exhaust outlets have been rearranged as have been the recesses on'the valve member.

A passage leads downwardly through the barrier 6 and has a lateral extension 8| thereon which leads to the recess in which the valve member 'l is slidable. The valve member has a recess 82 therein which leads to the opening 33 through the valve which has Ibeen previously described. This recess 82 when moved into align-` which leads out through the periphery of the bar-` rier 6 into the area 81 between the tubing 3 and` the casing 2. As indicated heretofore this area will be open at the surface and serve as an exhaust-area for dissipating the pressure after it has effected movement ofthe piston. kThe snap latch construction 64 andv65 will be provided the same as in Figs. 1 and 2 to definitely position the valve in the various operative locations.

Fig. 3 illustrates the piston 43 in elevated position with the valve 1 elevated and ready to allow the injection of pressure fluid through the extension 88 from the inlet passage 80. The passage 85 has the lateral extension 89 which is adapted to have the recess 90 in the valve member moved into alignment therewith when the The inflow' valve is in its uppermost position. of this'pressure will then cause the piston to 'start downwardly and cause exhaust ofithe pressure from the chamber 56 through the passage 33 and into the recess 82. Thisrecess will at this time be aligned with the exhaust passage 9i as best seen in Fig. 5, which passage leads through the periphery of the barrier the same as the passage 86. It will be noted from lFig. 5 that this passage is spaced circumferentially so as to avoid connection with the inlet pressure passage 80.

It seems obvious from the foregoing explanation as to Figs. 1 and 2 that the present arrangement can be utilized with the tubing aspthe pressure reservoir rather than the casing as the source of pressure. In other words; the arrangement is reversed as compared with Fig. 1. The flow of liquid will be upwardly through ythe macaroni string 20 as previously described.

It seems obvious that if desired, the macaroni String 20 0f Fig. 1 could be omitted and the well liquid pumped directly into the tubing 3. In such an arrangement, of course, the exhaust outlet 6B would discharge into the well liquid in the tubing and assist to some extent inits aeration and. consequent elevation to the surface. This macaroni string is merely disposed on the seat 2| and may be removed at will if desired. In some instances the installation may be made without any macaroni string and when the well production is reduced to some extent,then the macaroni string may be utilized to. facilitate production through a smaller diameter pipe. This smaller diameter pipe is also very advantageous when an excessive amount of sand must be pumped, along with the oil, as the sand is thus kept moving and not allowed to fall back past iiuid being pumped, thereby causing a sand bridge or plug to form in the tubing.

What is claimed is:

1. A control device for the admission of lpressure fluid to a well tubing to elevate the well liquid comprising a well tubing, a standing valve therein, a pump chamber, a piston therein, a travelling pipe connected to said piston to conduct liquid from said standing valve to a point in the tubing above said pumpchamber, travelling valves to check back flow through said pipe,

y a slide valve slidably carried by said tubing and projecting into said chamber through said piston and having a passage therethrough to admit pressure fluid into said chamber below the piston, and means on said slide valve to be engaged by said piston adjacent the ends of its stroke to move said valve to admit or exhaust pressure fluid below said piston.

2. A control device for the admission of pressure iluid to a well tubing to elevate the well liquid comprising a well tubing, a standing valve thereinl a pump chamber, a piston therein, a.

travelling pipe connected to said piston to con- A duct liquid from said standing valve to a point in the tubing above said pump chamber, travelling valves to check back iiow through said pipe, a slide valve slidably carried by said tubing and projecting into said chamber through said piston and having a passage therethrough to admit pressure uid into said chamber below the piston, and means on said slide valve to be engaged by said piston4 adjacent the ends of its stroke to move said valve to admit or exhaust pressure fluid below said piston and to simultaneously therewith exhaust or admit pressure uid from said chamber above said piston.

3. In an automatically operable deep well .pump mounted on a well tubing, a pump chamber formed in the tubing, a piston therein having a pipe extension each above and below, a travelling valve in each extension, a barrier forming the ends of said chamber, said extensions being slidable respectively in each barrier, means to' pro- .vide a source of pressure uid to actuate said piston, and valve means connected to said piston 'to admit and release pressure uid tosaid chamber above and below said piston so as to eiect reciprocation thereof including a sleeve vvalve projecting through one of said barriers.

4. A deep well pressure fluid actuated pump lncluding a tubing, three spaced fbarriers therein forming an inlet suction chamber, a piston chamber and an exhaust chamber, a travelling barrel extending from said inlet to said exhaust chambers and spanning said piston chamber, a piston on said barrely within said chamber, a pressure fluid control valve carried by one of said barriers and operable by being contacted by said piston to alternately admit and exhaust pressure uid to below and above said piston 4in said piston chamber, a standing valve in said inletchamber and a travelling valve on said travelling barrel so that movement of the piston pumps the well.

5. A well pumping assembly including a casing, a tubing and a macaroni string of pipe in the well, a standing valve at the lower end of the tubing, a packer seal between the tubing and casing adjacentsaid standing valve, a pair of spaced barriers in said tubing dening an inlet chamber just above said standing valve and a piston chamber between the barriers, said macaroni string being disposed on the upper of said barriers, an opening through each barrier, a travelling b'arrel extending through said. openings and having a travelling valve therein, a piston in said piston chamber connected to said travelling barrel, said tubing and casing lforming a pressure uid reservoir, and valve means operable by movement o f said piston to admit and exhaust.` pressure iiuid alternately above and below said piston to eilect a pumping action to discharge into said macaroni string above the upper barrier.

6. A- well pumping assembly including .a casing, a tubing and 'a macaroni string of pipe in the well, a standing valve at the lower end of the tubing, a packer seal between the tubing and casing adjacent said standing valve, a pair of spaced barriers. in said tubing defining an inlet chamber just above said standing valve and a piston chamber between the barriers, said macaroni string being disposed on the upper of said barriers, an opening through each barrier, a. travelling barrel extending through said openings and having a travelling valve therein, a piston in said piston chamber connected to said travelling barrel, said tubing and casing forming a. pressure fluid reservoir, valve means operable by movement of said piston to admit and exhaust pressure uid alternately above and below said piston to effect a pumping action to discharge into said macaroni string, and an exhaust outlet to the area between said tubing and macaroni string.

7. A Well pumping assembly including a casing, a tubing and a macaroni string of pipe in the well, a standing valve at the lower end of the tubing, a packer seal between the tubing and casing adjacent said standing valve, a pair of spaced barriers in said tubing defining an inlet chamber just above said standing valve and a piston chamber between the barriers, said macaroni string being disposed on the upper of said barriers, an opening through each barrier, a travelling barrel extending through said openings and having a travelling valve therein, a piston in said piston chamber connected to said travelling barrel, said tubing and macaroni string forming a pressure iluid reservoir, valve means operable by movement of said piston to admit and exhaust pressure iiuid alternately above and below said piston to effect a pumping action to discharge into said macaroni string, and an exhaust outlet to the area. between said tubing and casing.

8. A well pumping assembly including a tubing, a macaroni string of pipe therein, a. pump connected to said tubing, comprising a reciprocable piston in said pump, a valve including a stem passing sealably through the piston and having abutments engageable by the piston to alternately move the valve to admit and exhaust pressure uid to the opposite sides of said piston, means to maintain a pressure uid supply in the tubing, and means operable by said piston to pump liquid from the well into said macaroni string of pipe, the exhaust from said valve extending into the well outside of said tubing.

WILLIAM N. EDDINS. CARL C. THURMAN. 

